Computerised Dynamic Posturography
Accurate, Documented Balance Testing
For Health Professionals
✔️ Balance Testing
✔️ Limit of Stabiliy Testing
✔️ Falls Risk Assessment
✔️ Targeted Balance Rehabilitation
Force platform balance tests provide valid information of postural control that can be used to predict falls risk even among older people without apparent balance problems or fall history.
Pajala et al, “Force Platform Balance Measures as Predictors of Indoor and Outdoor Falls in Community-Dwelling Women Aged 63-76 Years.”
Journal of Gerontology, (2008) Vol. 63A, No. 2, 171-17.
For Health Professionals
Most falls can be prevented with early identification, assessment and treatment. But often patients don’t mention that they have a balance problem, either because they don’t know or because they are afraid to tell you for fear of losing their independence.
In our Narrabeen office we have a Comprehensive Assessment of Postural Systems (CAPS™), which is a self levelling force plate with specialised software.
Our CAPS uses a patented process to quickly screen and identify persons at increased risk of falling and objectively quantify their risk via age-based reference values.
In addition to screening and identifying asymptomatic at-risk patients, we can also:
✔️ Conduct a complete mCTSIB test battery – the widely recognized standard for an initial balance evaluation using a force platform;
✔️ Conduct a Limit of Stability Test
✔️ Help document medical necessity for further assessment testing and treatment;
✔️ Provide evidence of therapy progress; and
✔️ Document treatment outcomes.
The most consistent predictors of future falls are clinically detected abnormalities of gait or balance.
(Ganz et al, “Will My Patient Fall” JAMA, (2008) 297(1):77.
Why use Computerised Dynamic Posturography?
Computerised Dynamic Posturography (CDP) is a measurement and rehabilitation tool for balance.
It involves the use of a plate with very sensitive pressure sensors on which the patient stands, and the software detects the amount of pressure being applied at each sensor. It then calculates the centre of pressure and the amount that they move on the plate (called postural sway).
Using this plate, we can measure any movement that we can translate into the vertical plane. This means that we are able to measure stability under normal conditions, and also under conditions that are not normal, where the patient might be pertubationally challenged.
This means that not only are we able to assess the patient to see if you are at risk of a fall, but we can build a picture of how well they respond to different postural circumstances.
Our work then involves building a rehabilitation program for them that is based on their unique postural characteristics and lifestyle conditions.
Balance starts to deteriorate in our mid 50’s. We recommend everyone over 60 has a Balance Test once a year as it serves as a baseline to pick up early deterioration. If picked up early, in most cases deterioration in balance can be fixed with simple exercises.
Dr Tony Tranfield D.O.
is an Osteopath, practicing on the Northern Beaches of Sydney since 1996. He holds post graduate training in neurological rehabilitation and computerised posturography. He has a special interest in posture, balance and movement, and has developed specific diagnostics, rehabilitation, therapy for posture and balance related problems.
A big part of what we do is education, and Dr Tranfield has created an online video education program for postural stability called ‘Perfect Posture Online’, which was developed from years of postural rehabilitation using computerised posturography.
You can see his full biography here
There are 1,000 hip fractures every day in the United States, over 90% of which are caused by falls.
“Falls Among Older Adults: An Overview.” Centre for Disease Control and Prevention 2009″
21/20 Wellington Street
NARRABEEN NSW 2101
AUSTRALIA
02 9913 7900
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